Associate Professor Colquhoun also debunked popular myths about krill oil and coconut oil.

"Krill oil is a good source of omega-3s however it is no better for you than fish oil and is usually more expensive," he said.

"Don't take too much notice of krill oil labeled 'organic', 'sustainable' or 'eco-friendly' - the current harvesting of krill is less than 1 per cent of what is in the ocean, so it is all wild and sustainable.

"There have also been bizarre claims that coconut oil lowers cholesterol, cures Alzheimer's disease and even prevents heart disease, however the research does not support this.

"In fact, coconut oil is full of unhealthy saturated fat which raises bad cholesterol levels, clogs the arteries and increases the risk of heart disease.

"With over 90 per cent saturated fat I would definitely be keeping coconut oil off the menu."

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User comments

Where is Prof. Colquhoun's evidence to support such a statement that coconut oil clogs arteries and increases the risk of heart disease? There is WHO data on fat intakes which contradicts his statement.

According to Thomas Brenna, a professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell University who has extensively reviewed the literature on coconut oil, a considerable part of its stigma can be traced to one major factor.

"Most of the studies involving coconut oil were done with partially hydrogenated coconut oil, which researchers used because they needed to raise the cholesterol levels of their rabbits in order to collect certain data," Dr. Brenna said. "Virgin coconut oil, which has not been chemically treated, is a different thing in terms of a health risk perspective. And maybe it isn't so bad for you after all."

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